The Characterization of Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum Cytokines in Patients With Kawasaki Disease

Abstract

The differences in the inflammatory cytokine value between CSF and serum suggest that the degree of systemic vasculitis is different between CSF and the circulating blood, and some patients with KD showed a higher degree of CSF inflammation.

Cognitive Development After Kawasaki Disease ― Clinical Study and Validation Using a Nationwide Population-Based Cohort ―

“…11 However, KD is also characterized by multisystemic vasculitis and may thus affect blood perfusion and cause inflammatory changes in the brain. 12, 13 One study indicated that central nervous system (CNS) symptoms occur in 1-30 % of KD patients. 14 KD patients with CNS involvement may exhibit a variety of symptoms and signs, including irritability, lethargy, asep-…”

Kawasaki disease as a cause of encephalitis

“…Cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis and increased cytokine levels, similar to those reported in encephalitis, are also observed in Kawasaki disease and reflect intracranial inflammation that is possibly responsible for the characteristic irritability 2 3. Predominantly neurological presentations of Kawasaki disease are well described and include focal cranial nerve palsies,4 encephalopathy5 and meningoencephalitis 6 7…”

Coronary artery dilatation and vasculitis in a case of rabies: Similarity with Kawasaki disease?

“…11 This was attributed to systemic vasculitis, but in a previous report, comparison of the cerebrospinal fluid of Kawasaki patients with that of controls manifesting acute encephalitis showed that these two groups had comparable levels of cytokines. 12 What is even more surprising is the elevated cerebrospinal fluid/serum cytokines ratio that some of the patients had, suggesting that the inflammatory process in the central nervous system is independent of systemic inflammation.…”